Headlight



Nov. 1,1927.

w. DA. RYAN HEADLIGHT Filed July 29. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventon ld/aerfiag @6111 ag m v Hi s -Attor'ngg.

Nov. 1, 1927.

W. DA. RYAN HEADLIGHT Filed July 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pi qAs.

Hi s Attorney.

Patented Nov. 1,192 7 UNITED] STATES v 1,647,149 )PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER DABGY RYAN, OI SGHENEGTADY, NEW YORK.

HEADLIGHT.

Application filed July 29,

My invention relates to improvements in headlights, and in particular toheadlights for automotive vehicles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a non-glareheadlight embodying means for adequately illuminating the roadway aheadof the vehicle and the front and sides of the vehicle and the areaadjacent thereto, so as to enable the occupants to clearly observeobjects in the path of travel thereof as well as at the sides of theroad.

A further object is to provide a lens for use inconn'ection with aheadlight embodying means for directing lightrays projected therethroughtoward the axis of the lens in advance of the latter, whereby toovercome the possibility of a dark area along the lamp axis usuallycaused when the light source is positioned out of the focus.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thisdescription progresses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front end of an automobileequipped with my improved headlight;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a headlight embodying myinvention;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the lens or closure forming a part ofmy improved headlight; and

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the lens shown in Figure 4.

Throughout the several views, similar ref erence characters will be'usedfor referring to similar parts.

The embodiment of my invention disclosed herein comprises a shallowmetal housing 15, having the rearwardly bulging portion 15'. The frontend of this housing is closed by means of a .door, comprising the outerring 16, the spacer ring 17 and the inner clamping ring 18. The outerring is hinged to the housing, as shown at 19, so as to permit the doorto open downwardly. A suitable latch 20, pivoted to the ring 16 at 21,and engaging the spring catch 22, may be used for holding the door inits closed position. The lens ortransparent closure, forming a part ofthe door, comprises the outwardly bulging conical portion 23', havingthe central-portion 24 that is spherical in contour, and the cylindricalportion 25 thatmerges into the conical portions 23 through the curvedportion 26 of comparatively 1924. Serial No. 728,970.

short radius. The cylindrical portion 25 terminates in the annularflange 27 that is clamped between the two rings 16 and 18, as shown'inFigure 2, there preferably being a rubber gasket 28 between the outerring il6 and the flange'2'Z, so as to cushion the ens.

It will be noted thatthe inner and outer surfaces ofthe lens aresubstantially parallel, except for the convex annular lenticularprotuberance 29, formed on the inner surface or face of the conicalportion of the lens. The edges of this annular, lenticular protuberancegradually merge into the adjacent portions of the inner lens surface. I

The inner surface of the central portion of the lens, lying inside theline 1, Figure 5, and inside the circle B, Figure 4. is curved upon theradius D, and the outer surface of the corresponding. portion isparallel to the inner surface. The immediate central portion of thelens, lying within the circle C, Figure 4, may be etched or sand blastedto produce a diffusing screen for the direct rays from the light source.That portion of the outer surface of the lens, lying between the centralspherical portion and the curved %ortion 26, is generated by a straightline rotating about the axis of the lens. The

convex, annular protuberance 29 is curved upon the radius H, but itsedges merge with the adjacent surfaces of the lens along curves havingthe radii and L respectively. The reflector 30 is preferably aparaboloidal reflector of long focus. While betduce a slight diffusionof the light rays forming the beam projected by the reflector,

and, at the same time reduce the glare. From this description, it willbe apparent that not only the focus -of the reflector, but also thesource of light is located outwardly beyond the planes defining the edgeof the reflector and the edge of the housing. This permits direct raysof light to pass through the cylindrical portion 25 of the lens and thusprovides adequate illumination of the roadsides immediately adjacent thefront end of the automobile, and also directs light I downwardly forilluminating the front por- 'tion of the machine. To a certain extent,direct rays issue upwardly, so as to illuminate any foliage throughwhich the car may be passing.

The reflector 30, is, preferably, supported by a suitable ring 33 havingtrunnions T, supported by brackets B, carried by the housing, and may beadjusted about the axis of the trunnion by means of the adjusting screw34. I prefer to adjust the reflector so that the upper edge thereofprojects or extends slightly ahead of the lower edge thereof, as shownin Figure 2. The lamp 32 is mounted in a suitable socket 35, extendingthrough the central portion of the reflector. This socket need notinvolve any means for adjusting the position of the filament of thelight source, inasmuch as the construction of my headlight compensatesfor any variations in the' size and location of the filament that mayoccur in commercial lamps.

A common objection to headlights wherein the light'source is out of thefocus of the reflector is that the light rays are reflected in the shapeof a hollow cone leaving a comparatively dark area in the axis ofthebeam. A lens constructed in accordance with the present inventionovercomes this objection, for the reason that the rays projected there--through near the edges of the lens are deflected by the outer portionof the annular protuberance or lenticular projection 29 and directedinwardly toward the lens axis in advance of the latter.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have constructed a headlightwherein the rays projected from the light source and the reflector aredirected forwardly from the lamp, inwardly toward the axis of the beam,

ing portion, the central my invention, it is to be clearly understoodthat my invention is not limited to these details, but is capable ofother adaptations and modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A headlight comprising a reflector of long focal len th, a source oflight located adjacent the ocus of said reflector, and a transparentenclosure, comprising an annular marglnal portion extendingsubstantially parallel with the axis of said reflector and merging intoa conical outwardly bulgortion of which is spherical in contour, t einner face of the conical portion of said enclosure having an annularlenticular projection, both edges of which gradually merge into theinner surface of said enclosure.

2. A lens for a headlight comprising a conical portion, the centralportion of which is spherical in contour, and a cylindrical portionmerging into the conical portion through a comparatively short radius,the inner face of said conical portion having an annular lenticularprotuberance, the edges of which gradually merge into the adjacent innersurface of said conical portion. I

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of July,1924.

WALTER DARGY RYAN.

